COMPONENTS OF A COMPREHENSIVE HIGH SCHOOL CAMPUS MINISTRY

 “Ministry with adolescents utilizes each of the Church’s ministries – advocacy, catechesis, community life, evangelization, justice and service, leadership development, pastoral care, prayer and worship – in an integrated approach…” (Renewing the Vision:  A Framework for Catholic Youth Ministry, USCCB, 26, 1997.)

A Campus Ministry Program tailored to the needs and resources of the high school provides:

• Advocacy – empowers young people by giving them a voice and calling them to responsibility and accountability around issues that affect them and their future.

• Catechesis – integrates knowledge of the Catholic faith with the development of practical skills for living the Catholic faith in today’s world. This complements the religious education program in the high school.

• Community Life – collaborates with parish ministerial staff to provide avenues for adolescents to participate as members of the parish and school community and opportunities for the faith community to acknowledge, celebrate and value its adolescent members.

• Evangelization – calls young people to be evangelizers of other young people, their families and the community.

• Justice and Service - involves adolescents, their families and parish communities in actions of direct service to those in need and in efforts to address the causes of injustice and inequity and nurtures a lifelong commitment to service and justice involvement.

• Leadership Development – utilizes adult and adolescent leaders in the variety of leadership roles necessary for comprehensive ministry.  Supports faculty and staff in their roles as campus ministers.

• Pastoral Care – promotes positive adolescent and family development, provides care and guidance, challenges systems that are obstacles to positive development, and maintains a contact/referral list to connect youth and their families to support services as needed.
  
• Prayer and Worship – celebrates and deepens young people’s relationship with Jesus Christ through communal prayer and liturgical experiences.